There has been much consternation within the ground pounder ranks, and dinosaur surface warfare types, about the demise of the traditional battle ship's 16" guns. They were very good at what they did -- accurate supporting fire (although not so much on the WWII style surface engagement scenario anymore). The ability to hit something 20 miles away, in a matter of seconds, without putting a pilot at risk, or using a very expensive Tomahawk was very very attractive. It was a capability that has been lost when the battleships were mothballed/scrapped until now...
Enter the Raytheon ERGM.(PDF) Its fires from a common 5" naval gun (which we have LOTS of), but has a range of 40+ miles due to a rocket boost, and can hit on the first shot because its GPS guided.
1 comment:
...40 miles inland where it bounces off the top of the concrete pillbox/bunker because it only has half to a quarter of the explosive power of a normal 5" round. Probably will be used for soft targets only, but that includes most modern AAA guns and antiship missile emplacements. Although the capacity to unload a Time on Target barage with a single tube has potential. Can you imagine the range and impact of a 12 gun volley of this round from 16" guns?
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